Russia bans fun

Smull · 07-04-2008, 01:37 PM

Figured this was appropriate for the 4th of July. Nothing makes me appreciate living in our (mostly) free country more than stuff like this.

[Russia Mulls Legislation To 'Save' Its Youth] - [Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty © 2008]
Russia may ban Halloween, emo punk | FP Passport

If some Duma deputies have their way, young Russians could soon find themselves in trouble for activities as seemingly innocent as carving pumpkins or listening to music.

Together with proposals to combat child alcoholism and pornography, the policy project outlines a raft of draconian measures such as a 10 p.m. curfew for all school-age children and a ban on tattoos and body-piercings.

Under the new measures, schools would be prohibited from celebrating Western holidays like Halloween and St. Valentine's Day, which are deemed inappropriate to "Russian culture." Toys in the shape of monsters or skeletons would be banned as "provoking aggression."

The proposal also sets its sights on teenage subcultures such as emo, a style of hardcore punk, and goth, which lawmakers accuse of "cultivating bisexuality." Both styles, the legislation implies, are social scourges on a par with the skinhead movement, and must be eliminated from the social landscape.

some scary shit

David Octavius · 07-04-2008, 02:51 PM

Originally Posted by Smull

Figured this was appropriate for the 4th of July. Nothing makes me appreciate living in our (mostly) free country more than stuff like this.

[Russia Mulls Legislation To 'Save' Its Youth] - [Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty © 2008]
Russia may ban Halloween, emo punk | FP Passport

some scary shit

Take away the western holiday part and it sounds like that could happen here if certain groups, that already have a lot of political sway, gain majority control.

motivez · 07-06-2008, 01:06 PM

Russia continues to fall back into an authoritarianism

Unfortunately our country has hardly been engaged with them during Bush's time in office.. I guess once Bush looked into Putin's eyes and saw his soul he figured we could completely shift our attention away from Russia and on to other foreign policy issues

David Octavius · 07-06-2008, 02:17 PM

Originally Posted by motivez

Russia continues to fall back into an authoritarianism

Unfortunately our country has hardly been engaged with them during Bush's time in office.. I guess once Bush looked into Putin's eyes and saw his soul he figured we could completely shift our attention away from Russia and on to other foreign policy issues

What can we do about Russia? There are no diplomatic means that will stop them from going back to the old order

motivez · 07-06-2008, 04:10 PM

Probably nothing until Bush leaves office. Our reputation is shit and our ability to really be a force in diplomacy has been severely limited by Bush's actions..

Once we get a new President, we should re-engage them and encourage them (through diplomatic means, of course) to have greater freedom for their people, in personal and political matters.. they've really taken a lot of steps backwards over the last 8 years

David Octavius · 07-06-2008, 05:50 PM

That is not Bush's fault, it would of happened regardless. There is nothing any administration can do to stop Putin's power grab, its like saying England or Germany could of prevented Bush from consolidating power the way he did.

motivez · 07-06-2008, 05:53 PM

I dunno, what other countries have the kind of influence we have had over the last few decades? None I can think of.

C4Casey · 07-07-2008, 01:37 AM

Our percieved power and influence in foreign affairs means precisely dick when it comes to Russia. Even during the Clinton years, we didn't have much influence over them, else we could have helped end the Chechnya issue somehow. Russians don't forget that we were their arch-enemies for over 40 years, and the end of the cold war has not greatly thawed the mistrust the Russian government has of us. And really, we have no real control over the policies of any first-world country. The only reason we hold sway over some third-world countries in the Middle East and Africa is because 1) Many of them depend on the U.S for aide, and 2) We have total, complete military superiority over them.

C4Casey · 07-07-2008, 01:41 AM

Oh, and going to one of our allies and using diplomacy to try and tell them how to run their own country is a really good way to turn that ally into an enemy, plus it re-enforces "arrogant American" perception that alot of Europeans hold of us.

Photon1001 · 10-03-2008, 02:14 AM

^I'm not so sure about that. Good diplomacy would entail getting them to run their country in ways more in line with our interests without seeming like we are telling them what to do. In this Bush has been a true failure, contrast him with say Ronald Regan, who was practically bosom buddies with Gorbachev, or even Clinton's dealings with Yeltsin.

I might also add that McCain already had already confused Putin as being the president of Germany.. not exactly a good start...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZiT2FiAoG8

Donkey® · 10-03-2008, 10:02 AM

Besides the holiday school shit, I see no problems here. All those should apply to kids here as well.

Smull · 10-03-2008, 11:06 AM

Originally Posted by Donkey®

Besides the holiday school shit, I see no problems here. All those should apply to kids here as well.

Why in the world would you want government, that is politicians and bureaucrats, dictating culture?

Photon1001 · 10-03-2008, 12:26 PM

^He must have a problem with the emo kids. Seriously, their not really "on a par with the skinhead movement", are they?

Donkey® · 10-03-2008, 03:45 PM

Originally Posted by Smull

Why in the world would you want government, that is politicians and bureaucrats, dictating culture?

It's already well established in our country that you have to be 18 to get tattoos. (earlier if you drag your parent in) Also, there are curfews for teens all over the place...and honestly they don't have any business being out on the streets after midnight anyway.

Photon1001 · 10-03-2008, 03:52 PM

^this goes way beyond that though:

The proposal also sets its sights on teenage subcultures such as emo, a style of hardcore punk, and goth, which lawmakers accuse of "cultivating bisexuality.

clearly this is government imposed morality, and not just setting age limits on drinking and tattoos.

Heres Johnny · 10-04-2008, 06:34 PM

Damn Pinkos!

jimeigh · 10-04-2008, 10:15 PM

Originally Posted by Donkey®

Besides the holiday school shit, I see no problems here. All those should apply to kids here as well.

what the hell? honestly? piercings and tattoos and music subcultures should be outlawed? monster and skeleton toys should be outlawed?

really? this makes sense to you?

there are no words.

jimeigh · 10-04-2008, 10:16 PM

Originally Posted by Donkey®

It's already well established in our country that you have to be 18 to get tattoos. (earlier if you drag your parent in)

oh, so, all of a sudden you set america as the standard for right-ness? if america does it, it must be okay?
what has what america's laws are got to do with what's right or not?

they don't have any business being out on the streets after midnight anyway.

and who are you, the parent of every child?

jimeigh · 10-04-2008, 10:18 PM

Originally Posted by Photon1001

^this goes way beyond that though:

clearly this is government imposed morality, and not just setting age limits on drinking and tattoos.

yea, what the hell was that about? it's okay to ban music subcultures because they "promote bisexuality?"

lets pretend that's even true. why are laws being made in the favor of discouraging whatever sexuality?

Photon1001 · 10-04-2008, 10:42 PM

Originally Posted by Heres Johnny

Damn Pinkos!

I know you're being sarcastic, but to indulge, pinkos, really? Pinkos that want to ban bisexuals, tattoos, piercings, and Halloween? Are these guys so far left wing that they've come full circle to just the other side of Sarah Palin?

..on second thought, since she can see them from her home state, I guess so.